On the eve of the AIBA World Boxing Championship finals in Doha, the International Boxing Association gathered to celebrate a memorable year with the 2015 awards ceremonies honouring boxers, coaches, referees and technical officials alike. Among the distinguished guests were IOC members Yumilka Ruyz arriving from Cuba and Tony Khoury from Lebanon, as well as British World Champion Amir Khan.

Cuban captain Julio Cesar La Cruz was crowned Boxer of the Year after a phenomenal 2015 that saw him win both the World Series of Boxing and the PanAmerican Games. The light heavyweight could still add World Champion to the list when he faces Ireland’s Joe Ward on Thursday night in the final in Doha. Fellow Cuban Rolando Acebal won Best WSB Coach.

The AIBA Best Coach award went to Russia’s former Olympic and World Champion Aleksander Lebziak, while Britain’s Nicola Adams was crowned Women Boxer of the Year. Adams had another memorable year in the ring, winning gold at the European Games in Baku to go with her Olympic gold in 2012.

Morrocco’s AFBC Champion Mohammed Rabii was named WSB’s boxer of the year after an undefeated season which he will be looking to round off with AIBA World Boxing Championship gold on Thursday evening against Daniyar Yeleussinov. China’s Lu Bin won the APB Best Boxer prize, with fellow countryman Tingjiang Dong winning the Best APB Coach award.

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